MindChamps Allied Care Creates Social Awareness for Children with Developmental Delays

MindChamps Allied Care working closely with teachers and families to support a child’s development

Singapore, 6 February 2017 - Figures from the Ministry of Family and Social Development (MSF) show that the number of educators providing learning support to students have increased by three-fold since 2013, thus allowing children with mild developmental needs to seek help. More specialists are working in preschools to help teachers identify developmental delays or needs in children.

MSF stresses the importance of these children benefitting from a mainstream and inclusive learning environment. With early intervention, the child will develop the competencies he or she requires for Primary One.

In most situations, it is beyond a parent’s ability to treat or even detect a child’s developmental delays or needs. MindChamps Allied Care will be organising a series of dedicated events which promote the close working relationship between therapists, teachers and families to support a child’s development.

Early detection is key, for it is the foundation on which therapy can be built upon.

Supporting the capacity of a child to meet the expectations of their school context

School is a context in which children learn how to be strategic learners, treasured friends,  valued community members, creative performers and efficient workers. Being a school student comprises many roles that can be appreciated or challenged by the academic and social expectations of teachers and classmates. In the 21^st century, students need to be discerning in an information-saturated world, rather than reciters of facts.

For some students, the classroom can be ‘hard work’ and the playground can be a lonely or unhappy place because of executive functioning difficulties. Hence, using an occupational therapy perspective, our Guest Speaker Dr Susan Lowe’s talk will outline executive functioning abilities that support readiness for learning, presenting a strategic approach to promote student’s engagement in learning across academic and social domains.

The talk will also focus on the importance of strong partnerships between teachers, parents and allied health professionals and provide opportunities to explore the following:

• How can we identify the strengths and difficulties of a student’s executive functioning abilities during performance in the context of their everyday school activities?


• What are some effective cognitive strategies which can support a student’s increased engagement in learning within academic domains at school and social domains at home?


• How can teachers, parents and allied health professionals collaborate in a meaningful and relevant way?

Table of Events

Guest Speaker’s Background

Dr Susan Lowe, PHD MAppSc(OT) GradCertHlthSc (OT) is the Owner and Principal Occupational Therapist at Skills for Kids (a paediatric occupational therapy and speech language pathology private practice) in NSW, Australia. She is also Visiting Professor of the Bachelor of Science (Honours), Occupational Therapy degree at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT).

Dr Lowe positions herself strategically in schools in partnership with teachers to increase their capacity to teach students who have executive functioning difficulties. By doing so, she aims to increase students’ readiness for learning through more efficient thinking strategies to develop resilience in vulnerable students.

To RSVP for the Event(s) by 15 Feb and/or to interview our therapist, please contact

Caroline Chng
Assistant Manager of Communications
D (65) 6841 7085
carolinechng@mindchamps.org

 

About MindChamps Holdings

MindChamps was first launched as an educational research centre in Sydney. The philosophy of the Founder, Chairman and Group CEO of MindChamps, David Chiem, was, and still is, to seek out the gaps that exist in society.

The first gap he identified was in education, while the second major gap that David identified was in health. Specifically, he focused on the mindset that the only time we go to the doctor is when the problem has already risen. In addition to treating conditions, David has always believed that doctors, like teachers, should play a critical role in ‘educating’ society in matters relating to health – nurturing them from young, the mindset that our approach to health should be preventive rather than reactive. MindChamps Medical, a division of MindChamps Holdings, draws together the benefits of education and healthcare to enable families to better understand how to build a healthy overall lifestyle.

The third element that completes the Trinity of the MindChamps vision is its focus on the Arts, the mirror to society.

The MindChamps Trinity of Mind (Education), Body (Medical) and Spirit (Arts) encapsulates the overall vision of MindChamps:

“To foster the power and potential of the human mind, body and spirit for a better tomorrow.”

Social Skills for Children – An Age-by-Age Guide

Other than teaching our children how to be grateful in life, we explore an age-by-age guide to developing social skills for children.

According to Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget, as quoted by the Ministry of Education Singapore, the cognitive development theory viewed children as active, self-motivated and willing to learn.

Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky in turn built on this notion and highlighted that “social interaction plays a fundamental role in children’s learning and development.”

He advocated the view of a social child as someone who is intelligent, strong, active and competent. He proposed that learning and development take place when children interact with their peers, teachers and other adults.

Indeed, both psychologists are expounding the benefits of children possessing strong social skills, in that not only is the child able to communicate well with peers and adults, but that this aids learning as well.

Through the following list, we will explore how children of different age groups are capable of different social skills. Hence, when you are teaching your child about the importance of interactive skills, check out the following list to guide you towards the appropriate set of skills according to your child’s age.

As Your Child Turns Three

When your child is at this age, he should be able to show and communicate a larger scope of emotions to you. This includes the likes of telling you what he wants, making eye contact and keeping quiet when someone else is talking.

As Your Child Turns Four

A child at this age might understand some rules of play, such as if the play activity goes in a full circle, your child will wait for her turn. She should be able to go beyond baby words to speak to you in  simple vocabulary. Don’t be alarmed when she asks whether her dolls ‘want chocolate or ice-cream’ – this  is her way of communicating at this age.

As Your Child Turns Five

By this age, your little one enjoys mingling  with other children, as he shows some degree of self-awareness, like being aware of gender play. He might chatter and mimic the adults during impersonation.

As Your Child Turns Six

At this age, your child could play with her friends more independently and ask to visit the bathroom before she makes a mess. She becomes skilful in asking for her portion of things, is sporty when it comes to play and demonstrates fairness and sincerity. She will likely be ready to help out with basic chores, like beating an egg and gathering the family for dinner.

As Your Child Turns Seven

Your child is now able to display appropriate feelings, like feeling upset for his friend when the latter is unwell, and sharing his belongings. You will be able to detect more in-depth what he’s conveying through his body language.

He doesn’t play the blame game as much, and has learnt to be a better listener, understands multiple perspectives and is more aware of how others perceive his actions. Do note that he may still be uncertain as far as being fair is concerned, so give him some time and he will mature in this respect.

The list above displays children’s social skills generally. Some children may mature faster, while others take longer. However, the list serves as a useful guideline.

Be Involved as a Parent

As a parent, you can be involved in your child’s social skills development in more ways than one. The following are some ways, as extracted from Talking with the Sky by award-winning authors, Brian Caswell and David Chiem.

• Communication is a two-way street. It is recommended that we communicate with them, not to


• When talking with your [pre-schooler], ask just one question at a time.


• Allow the young to finish speaking, instead of attempting to anticipate their answers.


• Avoid the temptation to interrupt their answers, even if the words suggest a response.


• Social signs can be confusing, but the meaning of a touch is generally unambiguous. For example, a hand laid softly on the arm or the shoulder, or the back of the fingers touching or running softly down the cheek.


• Constructive criticism is a positive way to offer criticism because it encourages growth and development. Giving constructive criticism to a child involves using an ‘I’ rather than a ‘you’ statement. E.g. ‘I really feel that…’ [versus] ‘You have caused X to happen.’

Imagine that your child understands the concept of respect and is not afraid to ask questions in class about what he/she does not know. Your child will soon develop a comprehensive understanding of the subjects in school, which enables him to interact well with teachers and classmates alike. This is what we encourage at MindChamps, for children with higher levels of EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient) certainly perform much better in school and this contributes directly to their self-esteem and confidence.

These Top 3 Qualities Will Help Your Child Grow Up to Be Successful

Imparting values is a vital component of parenting today

The values you impart in the early stages of your child’s life will help him/her grow up to be a self-confident and independent adult. Up to the age of seven, children are like sponges, absorbing everything around them. This imprint period is the best and most important time to help them form values and learn a sense of right and wrong.

Values influence how children behave in the classroom, interact with peers and develop ethical standards and even good manners. It’s certainly an aspect of parenting that every loving and hands-on parent must focus on.

Examine your own values and determine what’s important for your family and what values you want to see in your children. List them on a family bulletin board and place it somewhere visible in the home! Here are the top 3 qualities that will give your child a head start in life:

1. Respect

If you respect your child, he will learn to respect himself as well as others. Respect helps children build self-esteem and feel secure. You can demonstrate respect by asking your child for his opinion on where to go for family outings or what to cook for dinner. You can teach your child to respect other people’s things by not letting him rummage through your drawers and cupboards, or asking for permission before taking someone’s belongings.

2. Responsibility

Teaching a child to be responsible helps her learn to take care of herself, excel in school, and work diligently at a job someday. Teach your child how to keep her toys after play. Do it with her, not for her. Remember to give appropriate praise after that to reinforce positive behaviour. If your child loses a favourite toy she was responsible for keeping, don’t immediately buy her a new one. Read books to your child where the main character is responsible, and explain what the character did afterwards.

3. Resilience

Resilience allows your child to overcome adversity and maintain a healthy self-esteem even when things go wrong. Teach your child not to give up by encouraging him to try again, whether it’s a block tower that keeps falling over or a word he can’t figure out how to read. Model resilience by letting your child observe you hard at work, or do something difficult like fixing up a computer or mastering a recipe.

We live in a society that emphasises the importance of academic success. However, it is important to recognise that intentionally imparting values is a vital component of parenting. Indeed, it is the values taught that will help them navigate the inevitable challenges that arise and ultimately guide them towards success.

©2017 Focus on the Family Singapore. All rights reserved.

Article contributed by Judith Xavier, Focus on the Family Singapore.

20 Ways to Instill Good Manners in Your Child

Manners are not hard to come by, as long as we start inculcating them in our children when they are young. Just take the example of Japan, where it is reported that in Japanese schools, manners come before knowledge. It is generally known that the objective for the first years of school focuses not on knowledge or grades, but on inculcating manners and fostering character development in students.

While we may not have a similar case like that of Japan, we can still be effective in teaching our young ones on ‘how to have manners’. Having manners leads to positive aspects in other areas, including being grateful and developing patience. You can see how this is achieved through the following list on ‘manners for kids’.

1. Say good morning and goodnight, or find creative ways of greeting at rising or going to sleep: ‘Love you Dad’, say good morning with a kiss, hug, peekaboo! and more.

2. In the old days of the Cantonese culture, children are to greet all adults seated at the dining table before eating. Perhaps this is a good culture to reinstate. Say ‘Grandpa, Grandma, Dad and Mum, let’s eat.’

3. Eat your meals at the dining table, not in front of the TV.

4. Avoid talking with your mouth full.

5. Do not take the best foods for yourself. Take your designated portion, and leave the other portions for others.

6. When the meal is over, say thank you. This is so that we do not take food and its preparation for granted.

7. Say please when requesting for items and thank you when receiving them.

8. Receive presents with both hands.

9. When queuing up, don’t jump the queue; wait patiently for your turn to come.

10. Don’t interrupt others; let them finish talking or if you really need to interrupt, raise your hand to request to speak.

11. While on the bus with Mum, move to the back and don’t block the exit. This is courtesy to everyone who, like you, wants to go home.

12. Be a good listener when others are talking to you. Do not look to the right or left or past the speaker as you’ll appear disinterested, or rude.

13. Knock on the door that you wish to enter.

14. Close the door behind you.

15. Don’t leave things lying around. Pack up when you have finished playing.

16. When you are at home, keep noise levels down. Bear in mind that Dad and Mum may be resting after a long week or Grandpa and Grandma may be sleeping in during the weekend.

17. Greet others, whether they are relatives or Dad and Mum’s friends when you see them. A nice ‘Uncle’ and ‘Auntie’, or gege (big brother) and jiejie (big sister) for the younger people, will make their day.

18. Refrain from plucking flowers from plants. By doing this, you are destroying someone’s labour of love, as flowers do not grow overnight. So, do leave the flowers there for everyone’s admiration.

19. When your friend lends you her toys or books, play or read them with care. Don’t return them in a dilapidated state.

20. Remember to wear a smile. A smile is positively infectious, and the recipient of your good manners will indeed be joyous with your act of kindness – and happiness.

The Ultimate Parenting Tip for A Great Start to the Year

With highly packed schedules for work and school in addition to a myriad of external commitments and other social activities, years pass by in the blink of an eye. A typical Singaporean family has a variety of activities and gatherings to attend, from music and swimming lessons to tuition classes - the list goes on.

As parents, we might have a clear idea as to why we choose certain activities over others. However, these motivations also need to be communicated to our children, which is why there is a need to come up with a family mission statement and vision.

A family mission statement and vision may sound contrived to some, but it is an effective way to keep the family focused on undertaking meaningful activities while setting the family up for a purposeful year ahead. Here are a few ways to get started:

 

Think like a visionary coach

As parents, we have to resist the urge to talk down to our kids. We can’t dictate a family mission statement to our children. We must communicate in an affirming manner like a visionary coach – one who has a clear idea of what she is aiming for with his or her team. This type of coach communicates his or her vision and owns it. This is where a mission statement can be really powerful.

 

How to write a family mission statement

Set a date for a family meeting. Write up “Family Mission Statement” on the agenda.

As a family, discuss what values you are going to live by and what character traits you aim to show.

 

The list of words below might be helpful:

Celebrations are valued

Community focused

Creativity is valued

Generosity

Learning is valued

Healthy

Hospitality

Loving

Loyalty

Music is valued

Obedience

Respect

Responsibility

Time together

 

Brainstorm these questions as a family when coming up with your family vision and statement:

• What will the atmosphere or flavour of your home be?


• What do we hope our kids will treasure as memories when they grow up?


• What words would your family like to use to describe the relationships between family members and those outside your immediate family?

Then, organise the ideas and analyse the suggestions. Decide which ones gel best with the family and come up with a final draft of your family mission statement. The following statements might help.

Our family is about ___________.

We always value _____________________.

To those within our family, we will _______________________.

To those outside our family, we will ______________________.

A family mission statement will be a helpful reminder to the entire family throughout the year. It can influence the way we allocate our family’s resources, in terms of time, energy, finances, and the many talents and gifts that each of our family members has been blessed with. In this way, instead of mindlessly rushing from one activity to another and chasing individual goals, each year is spent meaningfully in ways that would draw the whole family closer together.

©2016 Focus on the Family Singapore. All rights reserved.

Article contributed by Elvira Tan, Focus on the Family Singapore

Play is Important in More Ways than One

For children to enjoy an enriching childhood, it is essential for them to be given sufficient time to discover both the world and themselves in a fun and age-appropriate way. If we deny children the time to play, we stifle their ability to learn later in life by inhibiting the development of essential neural networks related to association, problem-solving and even the recognition of 'cause and effect'.

The 'play gap' is a result of our society becoming preoccupied with merely measuring instead of truly educating young people – but it is important to realise, as Einstein once wrote, "Not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that be counted counts."

Young children learn by experiencing the world 'hands-on'. They are sensory/emotional learners, whose stage of cognitive development is unsuited for the misguided 'tutoring', drilling and cramming to which too many children are subjected. It's unfortunate that in our society today, children are deprived of the important pleasure of play because adults, with the best of intentions, seek to provide them with a ‘head start’ to education by sending them for various ‘enrichment’ classes. Sadly, many of these programmes attempt to treat children as 'little adults', with methods that leave the child bored, frustrated and stressed – and these emotions can colour all later learning experiences and affect the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being and personal growth of children unfavourably.

It is important for kids to have enough time to play

Some say, 'Play is the real work of childhood.' If we grasp this simple concept – if we understand that what many adults see as a 'waste of time' is actually Nature's way of building the cognitive capacity and intellectual frameworks upon which all later learning is built – then we would not even ask the questions above. Rather, we would make as much time as possible available for play – both 'free', unsupervised play and what we at MindChamps call 'crafted play' (play activities into which certain essential learning concepts have been subtly included).

As long as the child has sufficient time for other necessary activities, such as sleep, having meals, etc., parents should not introduce a cap on playtime.

Is there an age where kids should switch their focus from play to study?

Perhaps it is good to ponder the question, 'What is the purpose of study?' Is it to pass exams, or is there a more fundamental need to learn to control the mass of information and the demands of a competitive, globalised society? If we think it is the former, then we are living in the past, and our children will struggle to cope with the ever-more-complex world which confronts them. If we see education as preparing children for whatever world they will face in 15 or 20 years' time, then we will be more interested in making sure that foundation skills and learning strategies are in place, and the foundations for all these skills and strategies lie in play – not in rote learning and drill.

It is essential for parents to first ensure that their children develop an internal framework that makes them ready to learn, want to learn and love to learn before they are compelled into a regime of study. And the ideal age for children to develop this internal framework is during their time in pre-school and before they start primary school. This is the reason why MindChamps developed a unique preschool curriculum which nurtures all the key foundations of learning and out-of-school programmes for young children, focusing on creating the fun, experiential, active and ‘hands-on’ foundation activities that children enjoy. Thus, children will be able to develop the love for lifelong learning, possessing techniques to cope with their studies when they enter primary school.

What are some appropriate play activities for pre-schoolers?

Young children are ‘sensory-emotional’ learners. Their brains have not yet developed the complex neural networks required to process abstract concepts. They make connections (literally) through what they can touch, hear and see – and through how they feel, emotionally.

This is what we, at MindChamps PreSchool, call ‘Crafted Play’. Essentially, there are two types of play:

1. Free Play – Where children, while supervised, are left basically to their own devices in a space which ideally has many sources of stimulation (toys, balls, blocks, drawing equipment etc.) and physical activities (climbing frames, mats, slides etc.), and learning is random and wide-ranging.

2. Crafted Play – Where the activities, while allowing the child the latitude to Explore, Experience, Experiment and Enjoy, are given just enough structure to lead towards a particular learning outcome (numeracy skills, language/literacy skills, social skills, or perhaps a new ‘understanding’), without removing the all-important ‘play’ elements. In numeracy skills, kids take part in ‘real life’ money exchanges where they buy bananas as a snack, for instance.

Both forms of play are equally important, and both should be encouraged.

At MindChamps PreSchool, we employ Crafted Play in every key learning area, from literacy and numeracy to age-appropriate scientific concepts and even social/communication skills. Using our unique ‘Play-Stations’ (not the electronic kind), we can introduce children to a range of experiences and lifelong learning behaviours that the ‘drill and kill’ approach to teaching can never match.

Book a visit @ MindChamps PreSchool today!

Article contributed by Brian Caswell, Dean of Research & Programme Development at MindChamps.

 

Top Ways to Encourage Your Child to Learn Chinese

How do you encourage your child to learn Chinese? The learning of Chinese has myriad benefits. First of all, in Singapore, it is an academic requirement for children to study and do well in a mother tongue for PSLE. And since Chinese has long been, and is increasingly a language for business expansion, trade, engineering, tourism and cultural understanding, the learning of the language transcends academic achievement to wide usage in many aspects. In fact, it is a known fact that Mandarin is the most widely spoken language in the world.

Some children may not enjoy learning Chinese, especially when some perceive it to be the more difficult of the two languages (the less difficult being English) and because Mandarin is an entirely different language altogether, with different intonation and writing system.

Let’s find some ways to encourage your child to learn Mandarin, so that he/she becomes inherently interested in the language and culture, not just because you told him/her so.

1. Lay the Foundation by Being Positive about the Language

Show your child how Chinese can inspire, especially in that it is a modern language of tremendous relevance.

Bring your child to Kinokuniya and show her the comic books that she can read. If you are taking Singapore Airlines on your next holiday, flip open the KrisShop catalogue that is choc-a-bloc with latest gift items for children, drawing her attention to the descriptions for the products that are written in English as well as Chinese. Read them together, possibly replacing some difficult words for her and to encourage her, buy her the right gift.

2. Teach Your Child About the Culture as well as the Language

The Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Dance Theatre Limited, SHHKD, for example, seeks to cultivate an understanding and appreciation for Chinese dance by developing Chinese dance as an accessible art form for the larger community of all age groups and abilities, from toddlers to adults.

Learning about dance is a fine way to introduce your child to the language as well, as the instructions will point her in the right direction, literally.

While we could devote hundreds of pages to Chinese cuisine, we will leave that to you and your child’s culinary pleasure. Instead, we suggest that you bring your child to authentic Chinese restaurants pertaining to different dialect groups, to enjoy delicious steamed fish with shallots, fried noodles, Hakka abacus dish and more.

To teach him the art of Chinese cuisine, you can also indulge in dim sum, from learning to use chopsticks to pick up dainty morsels to the unique way of tapping two fingers as a way of saying ‘thank you’ when the waiter pours the tea.

And since Lunar New Year is round the corner, why not let him be a vital part of lao yusheng (raw fish tossing)? Prep your kid to recite auspicious words as the family tosses away, teaching him to say kwaigao zhangda (to grow up quickly) and dajia yiqilao (let’s do it together!).

3. Help Your Child Develop Natural Literacy Skills

Research from Professor AE Cunningham, University of California, Berkeley shows that children who come from homes where parents have dedicated time to giving them regular, enriching reading and writing experiences have significant academic advantage over children who have not had these experiences.

It’s important to point out here that some parents believe that making their children memorise characters and isolated words (or ‘phonics’) is the way to introduce reading to their children. This is monotonous to the child.  In addition, this kind of learning simply makes children ‘decoders’ of what they learn, not a ‘reader’ who understands what he is reading or one who is excited about reading.

Consider this: “Research does in fact show that preschoolers who have better letter naming and recognition skills tend to become better readers later on [and] these skills are best developed through ‘natural literacy activities’, not drill and memorisation. There is no evidence that memorising alphabet letters out of context predicts later reading skills.” (Raver & Zigler, 2004)

Here are the top natural literacy activities that create the best readers and writers:

I. Read to your children every day – this exposes him to multiple language structures, a wide vocabulary and the sheer joy of language.

II. Engage in conversation with your child frequently – this expands her spoken vocabulary. Research shows that strong verbal skills are linked to strong reading skills.

III. Point out written language in your environment – For example, point out writing on things such Chinese shop signs, packaging and posters. This connects the written word with useful and important information.

IV. Arrange play dates with friends – This encourages social interaction and will expand your child’s Chinese vocabulary through negotiation, discussion and role play.

V. Ensure your child observes you reading – When you read in front of your children you are being a strong role model, communicating that you value reading.

VI. Make your home a ‘literacy rich environment’ – Ensure you have plenty of reading materials available at home such as a bookshelf of age appropriate books, in addition to other forms of reading materials such as magazines, newspapers , brochures and on computers, as e-books.

VII. Have a set of magnetic characters on your fridge – This encourages your child to spontaneously manipulate letters and begin forming words.

If you are not a fluent speaker of Chinese, why not take this opportunity to learn the language together?

According to Brian Caswell, MindChamps Dean of Research and Programme Development: “At MindChamps Chinese PreSchool, we cultivate the necessary skills within our pre-schoolers so that they can become enthusiastic life-long speakers, listeners, readers and writers. We also develop their confidence in both written and spoken Mandarin and English. Our approach is based on the latest scientific research into language acquisition and the importance of a child's engagement with language, rather than the discredited "drill and kill" approach.  As such, we have incorporated age and developmentally appropriate fun and engaging activities and programmes such as MindChamps Reading & Writing, The Love for Chinese Language and Chinese Cultural Appreciation.”

The Right Dairy for Your Growing Child

There are many benefits of dairy for children that far outweighs our reliance on processed food and sugar, salt and fat, which could lead to obesity and diabetes. Even children without such issues need access to chemical-free, organic and biodynamic foods.

What’s more, as your child is growing right now, it’s important to get them to eat the right foods to support their growing bones and teeth, eyesight and other vital functions. One key area of nutrition lies in the importance of dairy foods in a child’s diet.

Researcher Malcolm Riley from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation(CSIRO) in Australia pointed out that “Dairy foods contain a package of essential nutrients including calcium for strong bones, protein for growth and development, riboflavin for eyesight, iodine for brain function and more”.

The CSIRO research also found that over 60% of children between the ages of two and 16 years did not meet the minimum dietary guidelines for dairy foods in Australia, despite being a country with relatively high dairy consumption (approximately 231 kilograms per person per year). In many Asian countries, including Singapore (whose average annual consumption is only 32 kilograms), the per capita consumption of dairy among children is observably lower.

Give Your Child Quality Dairy Products for Better Health

By giving your child the highest quality milk, yoghurt and low-fat cheese, you are ensuring that he/she gets the best possible start nutritionally.

Not all dairy products are of the same quality. It is important to avoid exposure to chemicals, pesticides, antibiotics and artificially-introduced hormones. It is also advisable to avoid UHT (or long-life) milk, because the ultra-high temperatures used in the UHT process can destroy vitamins and produce a particular taste that your child might dislike.

It is not difficult to source high-quality organic and biodynamic dairy products from a reputable source. There are organic shops totally devoted to such products, or supermarkets that have sections reserved for such products.

If you prefer low fat versions of such foods, do source for them, as this helps in the management of total fat intake which can decrease the risk of associated obesity and chronic health conditions.

As not all school canteens provide such items, be sure to pack it for your child, although some portions may be eaten at dinnertime. Include an ice-pack if you are packing them into your child’s breakfast or lunch in our tropical climate. Know the amount of such dairy foods that children should consume of every day.

 

Article contributed by Brian Caswell, Dean of Research & Programme Development at MindChamps

 

5 Ways to Prepare Your Child for the New School Year

Once, a passenger onboard a plane was greeted by the air-steward who said, “Hi Sir, I served you onboard the last time,” to which the passenger replied, “Holiday’s over. A great year is about to begin!”

Like the passenger, we can certainly look back with pride as we embark on another exciting time for our children, some starting school for the first time, to achieve their milestones in the new year.

Opportunities abound with more to learn, more friendships to forge and greater discoveries to make, all through fun and engaging activities. With the Champion Mindset and the Education and Life philosophy of 100% Respect Zero Fear, coupled with the practical checklist below on how to start the year, the beginning of 2017 will prove a fruitful time for all.

1. Make Use of Your Public Holidays – especially New Year’s Day

It proves great to have New Year’s Day because after all that partying and celebration, we all need a day off to sleep well, wind down and get our children ready for school.

On this day, tell your child about school, explaining that it will be a new place filled with a kind teacher and kids that are his age. Open up his school bag together with him, and delightfully explain to him some fun activities in his text book. Once you see that joy on his face, tell him there are more to come, together with nice, yummy food, a fun time with other children, singing and art.

Remember to let your child know that you will be waiting for him to tell you all about school on the first day when you pick him up. That way, you can gauge your child’s response and experience at school, doing the necessary to balance out the details for him, such as getting him more stationery.

2. Thoughtful Orientation Programmes

As most schools offer orientation programmes, be sure you attend them because they offer you some vital facts surrounding the school, such as information about the school premises, classrooms and gyms. At times, information will be obtained from you and documented on paper or digitally during orientation.

MindChamps’ orientation for parents are superbly thoughtful and exhaustive, applicable not just for the start of Playgroup, Nursery and Kindergarten but for all Champs who are commencing classes basically. What is more, at orientation, Champs meet their teachers, with whom they will be spending a lot of time.

In addition, your child will familiarise himself with the school premises, while you gain an understanding of the key learning outcomes and what to prepare for your child through the curriculum talk/update. This usually occurs at the start of the year. This is applicable to all Champs, whether they are starting school for the first time or otherwise.

3. Play with Your Child, for a Securely-attached Kid

In the book Talking with the Sky, authors Brian Caswell and David Chiem address the secret behind “securely-attached children” who are “able to separate from parent with confidence.” The secret to such children lies in the fact that their parents tend to play more with them.

The book lists the quote from Reverend Jesse Jackson, “Your children need your presence more than your presents.”

Thus, spend quality time in playing and bonding with your child; the benefits could well be seen on the first day of school, when your child is able to enjoy school right from the start, fully aware that Mummy will be there for him when school is over.

The book continues to explore that “bonding with children is different from spoiling them,” and that bonding is “the easiest parenting task of all”, being the “least expensive too”.

And all it takes is a hug. So go ahead, plan for the first day of school with a hug!

4. Make Friends

Another confident booster for your child lies in making friends. When conversing with your child about school, throw light on how interesting it will be for her to find out about the similarities as well as differences there are to the friends around her. Nurture her inquisitive nature as a child to find out about the right things, such as cultural differences and different pets. Before you know it, your child will have good friends so that she will enjoy school in this aspect too.

5. Establish A Sound Sleep Routine

Your child will probably be highly excited with all the occurrences at school, including the new friends he’s made, so understandably, you’d have to introduce a wind down time so that your child can get the necessary sleep he needs.

In Talking with the Sky, Caswell and Chiem write about the importance of sleep, as it affects children’s concentration the following day. Indeed, at the tender age when “three- to 10-year-olds need 10-12 hours [of sleep] a night,” the authors suggest that “children spend 30 minutes unwinding with a quiet activity such as doing a jigsaw puzzle, reading a book or quietly playing with a favourite toy before starting their bedtime routine.”

The bedtime routine takes another 30 minutes and they include wearing pyjamas, brushing teeth, a goodnight hug and then soft music.

“This way, your child will anticipate sleep at a non-conscious level.”

Indeed, that is sound advice, and your child will be ready for school the next day, all fresh and ready for more learning.

Find out more about MindChamps PreSchool, the industry leader with Number 1 market share in premium range preschools in Singapore.

7 Christmas Gifts for Children That Will Last a Lifetime

This Christmas, how about giving your child gifts to last a lifetime? If we take a moment to remember some of the meaningful gifts in life, we’d probably remember them with a backdrop of a peaceful family gathering or Daddy and Mummy with loving smiles.

The gifts are certainly valuable, but that precious backdrop, immeasurable in value.

This Christmas, give your child that cherished gift. In turn, he/she will have fond memories of the precious gift that only you can give:

1. Love – A Gesture

It is certainly true that some cultures are less expressive in their gestures of love to children. But if your child gets a loving gesture from you, he will be positively affirmed and loved, and these acts are remembered forever, between you and him.

Whether it’s a hug, holding his hand or a brush of his hair, a small gesture goes a long way.

2. Protect Your Child

Think of three things: a father, his daughter and a balloon while crossing the road. Dad is slightly flustered that his daughter is unwilling to cross the road because the balloon flies off. However, Dad succeeds and both get to safety.

By getting her to safety, Dad teaches his daughter about priorities and safety, lovingly reassuring her that he loves her. As for the balloon that flies off, there’s a brighter one at the store just round the corner.

Whenever your child faces these situations or some difficulties, like if she has fallen ill, take her to the doctor and ensure that she takes her medicine.

When you show concern and protect your child, your child will appreciate it, and she will learn the importance of taking care of her own well-being and health as well.

3. Love Your Child Enough to Discipline Him

There will always be moments of conflict, but the real deal does not lie in the conflict itself – what matters most is how we manage them. We can turn these situations around for the good of everyone. If your child has misbehaved and discipline needs to be meted out, carry it out firmly and positively.

Where the situation becomes hard to manoeuvre, like if you child decides to scream at you, here’s some advice from the experts. In the book Talking with the Sky, authors Brian Caswell and David Chiem share the following advice: “If you are very upset or angry about a behaviour or an incident, allow some ‘time out’ to calm yourself and regain control before ‘dealing’ with the incident.

“Emotional responses are never as effective as considered ones. Though you might feel the need to address the incident immediately, it is far better to deal with it effectively and with a positive resolution, than to take action that is fueled by unmanaged emotion.

“Send the child away on his/ her own, to think about what has occurred, and then to find a way to disperse the anger before discussing the incident. This will allow for better communication, and it will allow time for the child to reflect on his/her behaviour too”.

4. Have Peace at Home this Christmas

Christmas is all about peace, as you might remember the song Silent Night.

Make it a point to shower your child with peace this Christmas. Set your home in the right mood for peace with elements like the Christmas tree and a hearty spread that signify and contribute to domestic stability.

5. Focus on the Beauty in Others

By focusing on the beauty in others, you choose to see the positive sides of people. For some of us, this may require a change in perspective, but if we persevere, we will reap a bountiful harvest of positive thoughts, gifts for ourselves and the people around us.

Say your child is making her bed on her own for the first time, and forgets some small detail. Choose to see how she’s contributing to the chores for the first time. Teach her about the small detail, saying, “Thank you, you’re trying your best and Mummy loves it.” Your child can witness the act of positive thinking which leads to a positive outcome.

Incidentally, focusing on the beauty in others is a MindChamps value.

6. Share A Meal Together

As the saying goes, “A family that eats together stays together.” For a close-knit family that is grounded on understanding and support, sharing a meal is one of the best gifts in life. Need we say more?

7. Don’t Leave Anyone Out!

While bestowing gifts that last a lifetime to your child, ensure nobody is left out. A family member with whom you may not have much conversation or contact could turn out to have a great character you don’t know about, until you make the discovery.

If you impart values of not leaving people out to your child, it entails character-moulding and the use of effective communication and interpersonal skills.

This is possibly the best gift you can give to him.

Have a blessed Christmas.

Find out how your child can develop effective communication and interpersonal skills through MindChamps’ Thinking Cap programme.

 

6 Ways to Teach Your Child to be Grateful in Life

From sheltering your child from the rain to putting his/her food on the table, we all know how it feels like to have a sense of satisfaction when we do something special for the ones we love. If you find yourself too busy performing all these tasks, with no time to spare in teaching your child the roots of having a grateful heart, think again.

Scientists at the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkerly have recently conducted a research to  understand gratitude and the circumstances in which it flourishes or diminishes. From the findings, they found  a host of benefits enjoyed by individuals who practise gratitude regularly, which includes feeling less lonely and isolated, and living life with more joy and optimism.

Similarly, a child who is appreciative is such a joy to behold. Here are some things you can do to nurture gratefulness in your child:

1. The Quintessential Thank You

Teach your child to always be mindful about his/her manners and observe etiquette. There are no boundaries for saying ‘thank you’, so whether it’s the bus driver who halts his bus so that your child can board, or a waiting staff who has just refilled your child’s glass of water, ‘thank you’ might just brighten the day for everyone.

2. Be A Doer of Appreciative Deeds

One just can’t say he/she appreciates someone by paying lip service. Where being appreciative is concerned, you can always teach your child to do something for someone who loves him/her. For example, your child could use his/her savings to buy a thoughtful gift for that person.

In What makes A Champion, Professor Emeritus Allan Snyder (Editor), who coined the term ‘Champion Mindset’ writes about Prof Gavin Brown, a distinguished mathematician, who said: “Champions have the capacity for critical vision but it is their thirst to be doers that sets them apart.”

3. It’s All from the Heart

In everything that your child does, coach him/her to do it from the heart. That is, it is not merely about  doing just for the sake of it – he/she should mean it as well. Inevitably, there will be moments when your child’s good intentions are either brushed aside or not reciprocated; don’t fret, for that in itself is a learning curve. Continue to encourage your child to do good and the rewarding moment will arrive, sometimes in the most unexpected places.

4. Let Your Child Perform Tasks

Preparing a meal or planning a birthday party is time-consuming. If you let your child join in the preparations, he/she will be taught what they entail and they will become more appreciative when they are on the receiving end of such tasks in future.

5. Explain to Your Child Why He/She Can’t Always Get A Gift

When you are shopping with your child, there’s a chance you will encounter him/her asking you: “Why can’t I buy it this time?” Thus, you will need to explain the vital concepts of money and budgeting.

Even better, adopt ‘real life’ money calculation. The latest research shows that young minds are able to grasp the complexities of the world through experience, experiment and understanding, and the MindChamps Numeracy Strategies approach is ideally suited to help these young minds. These strategies are developed through grouping and counting exercises, the physical manipulation of numbers and groups, shapes and patterns, and through calculating and experimenting with money denominations.

6. Let Your Child be an Active Participant of a ‘Gracious Society’

The Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM), stresses the importance of graciousness, philanthropy as well as tolerance, among other acts of kindness. It says: “With every small act of kindness, we create a pleasant society with good social behaviour, and make life better for everyone.”

If your child is considerably young, this will be a great opportunity for you and him/her to practice acts of kindness together. Jointly, both of you can let a disabled person pass first, return the food tray when you are done, or help an elderly who needs directions.

As SKM says: “Kindness, bring it on!”

Let your child make a difference today.